Chapter 8
1930 Words
-Amy POV-
“Uh... hahaha...” Abigail laughs nervously. “We are eating here?”
“Yeah, Ezekiel and I are cooking. It will be done soon and Marco and Charlotte should be here soon too.” Aurora says.
Connor and I are both frozen, trying not to make any noise and also, we are already really close to each other. The closet doors are those with the side panels and you can see just a bit from in between them. Thankfully, they all go to the dining room area that seems to be in the next room and that's when Connor and I finally breathe. It seems we were both holding our breaths.
"This was not part of the plan." I say.
"That's Abigail for you. It wasn't really a plan but more of just winging it."
"Will they hear us... or smell us?"
He chuckles. "Not unless they are focusing on searching for intruders. Super haring is not something that is on all the time. Smelling however yes they could but they seem too distracted."
"Okay, good. So we are safe...for now."
He nods. “You know, for a huge apartment like this, how the hell is this closet so small?” He whispers and then mumbles. “Not that I mind.”
I move my arm and it hits his.
“Sorry.” I whisper.
“It’s okay. Here.” He moves his body to the side and instead of standing side to side, his chest is now facing me. Even though now I am even more nervous, we do fit much better.
“So, what do we do now? We can’t search for the book if they are all here.” I say.
“Maybe we can... or I can.” He says.
He lifts his chin up as if he is listening to sounds.
At this close proximity, I am now wondering how the heck did I end up in a closet with this gorgeous guy. This only happens in those books I read, yet here I am with my face almost touching Connor’s chest. I look up at him while he concentrates.
He is so handsome. Tall, chiseled jaw, green almond-shaped eyes, and his lips look so tempting. I wish I was one of those main characters in one of my books. But if I was, he would be kissing me by now.
“I can hear them all in the dining room and kitchen.” He says and I know that I should stop daydreaming now.
“I’ll maneuver my way around them and try to find it.” He says.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yeah. Wait here.” He opens the door and puts a foot out but then quickly rushes back in. The moment he closes the closet door back, a knock comes from the front door.
“Dammit.” He whispers.
“I’ll get it!” Abigail says.
We see her walk towards the door and when she passes by us, she looks in our direction and mouths out “sorry” She then opens the door and Marco and Charlotte walk in.
“Hey, we got the text. Guess we’re dining in today.” Marco says.
As they make their way to the dining room which is not that far from where we are, I slide down and sit on the floor. Connor does the same.
“We are stuck.” I say.
“Yeah, I think we are going to have to wait. I’m sure Abigail will think of something...I hope.” He says.
We both get comfortable. I look at Connor ready to apologize for getting him into this predicament but he seems... happy. He looks at me and gives me a big bright smile as if nothing was wrong, almost as if he is happy to be in this situation.
“You always have to show off, don’t you?” Wolf suddenly says and that’s when we both start listening in and watching them from between the cracks.
“I am cooking for you and this is how you repay me? Stop being such a mutt!” Ezekiel says.
“Ezekiel, one of these days, I’m going to bite one of your limbs right off of you!” Wolf says.
I look at Connor wide-eyed. I never knew Wolf was so violent. He never really talks when we are around so I have never seen his personality like this. Yet it feels more like something he does only with Ezekiel. They fight like brothers tend to do but they are supernatural so it’s only natural that it seems a bit more aggressive... I guess?
“Boys, play nice.” Aurora says and then she addresses Marco. “I’m surprised you haven’t scolded them yet.”
“Na, I'm watching Abigail.” He says.
“Me? Why?” Abigail asks.
“Because you are up to something. You are always up to something, just like your aunt May.” He squints his eyes at her and with two fingers, he points at his eyes and then at her. “I'm watching you.”
Abigail starts laughing as only a naughty child can.
Connor vigorously nods next to me. “She is the devil.” He whispers and I silently laugh.
“You are so paranoid, old man.” Abigail says.
“But I’m right... and I’m not old!” Marco says.
"Yes, you are." Abigail says. "How old are you? Forty-five? Fifty?"
"Thirty-nine and that is not old!" He says.
"Sure, but that doesn't change the fact that I can see white hair from here already." Abigail teases him and it works.
"No, you can't." He says putting his fingers through his hair.
“Alright, alright everyone, settle down.” Aurora says. “Food is ready, now let's eat.”
At that moment, my stomach complains about not being fed before we left the school. Connor bites his lips and holds his laugh in, while I am mortified and dying of embarrassment.
“So, Amy...” Aurora suddenly says and I straighten up.
I look at Connor with fear. “Does she know we are here?”
He also looks fearful but puts a finger across his lips. “Wait.” He whispers.
“Charlotte, we are going to be working with her, helping her out. How out of control are her powers?” Aurora asks.
“More than they should be. I mean, given who her father is, I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise but I am a bit concerned.” Charlotte says.
“I always knew she was special.” Marco says. “When I took her in, I can’t deny that at first, I was fearful. But she is a good kid and means well.”
“Agree.” They all say.
I swear that if I wasn’t the kind of person to hide my emotion—especially because I am in front of Connor— I would be crying right now. They are all really my family. Mammon will never have the privilege of being called that, family.
I feel Connor put his hand on mine. He squeezes and gives me a smile. I am surprised because it feels like he can read my emotions right now.
They all keep chitchatting. At some point, I almost fall asleep but when I feel like I lean on Connor’s shoulder, I quickly wake up. I look up at him and he just gives me a sweet smile.
"Sorry." I say.
He continues to smile. "Don't be. I don't mind."
I want to ask him why is he always so nice to me. Why is he helping me? Putting himself in this position and yet he doesn't seem angry about it.
"Do I have something on my face?" He asks and now I notice that I had been staring at him.
I nervously smile. "No...no, nothing." I look away with a burning face. “So, what are they doing now?” I softly ask, trying to change the subject.
“Still talking while they eat.” He says.
I sigh.
"So... Amy... what things do you like to do?" Connor suddenly asks.
"Huh? What things do I like to do?"
He nods. "Yeah... like when you are free. Places you like to go to or things you like to do for fun."
I don't know what to say. I am a very boring person.
"Uhm... I guess... uhm..."
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"Well..." I exhale and decide to just be honest. "I'm a boring person Connor. I usually spend my time in my room, in the library, in coffee shops, or in bookstores. The only time I have done something different is when you, Tinsley, and the others take me with you. Like when we when to Vegas or to the zoo."
He starts suddenly laughing. "You and Garnet went crazy in the zoo that day."
I feel embarrassed now. "I... uhm... I didn't know what came over me. The animals all just look so unhappy."
"Garnet is a bad influence. That's all." He says. "It is part of their nature. Damn fairies like to create mischief and influence those around them to do the same."
"Yeah... let's go with that. Garnet made me do it." I say and he laughs.
"Well, we should do more things like that. Maybe even just us." He says.
I laugh. "Yeah, I think it's best to leave Garnet out of it."
He smiles. "Yeah, but that's not what I mean. " He says as he looks away. "Anyway, you know... I think we can make it across the room if we crawl. They won’t see us.” Connor says. “They are too distracted.”
“What? Really?”
He nods.
“Then... why have we been waiting here?” I ask confused.
“Uh... well... I... wanted to scope out the room first.” He says.
Scope out the room? But he has been sitting down here with me the whole time.
“Doesn’t matter.” He says while he sees my confused expression. “Let’s try it.”
I nod. “Okay.”
Connor goes in front of me and opens the door just a bit. He starts crawling out and I follow. The others continue talking which lets us know that they can’t see us.
We make it across the living room and into the hall. We both get up since we are now away from all of them.
“There.” I say, pointing to a door.
“Are you sure?” He asks.
I nod at him. “Yeah, I can feel the magic coming from in there.”
We walk there and open the door. The room looks like an office but it has some items which are magical in nature. I can sense the magic in them. Right in the middle, there is a desk and Aurora's book lies on top of it.
“Is that the one?” He asks.
“Yeah.” I rush in and put my fingers on the edges of it. I can feel the immense energy of magic coming from it.
“Are you sure it’s okay to just touch it?” Connor asks but the moment he finishes his sentence, I open the book and we are both struck by an invisible force that comes right out of the book.
Connor and I go flying backward and hit the wall. My body feels like it’s shattered and my vision darkens.
- Writer
